Schmidt Ocean Institute
Invitation OnlyPalo Alto, California · EIN 26-4562328 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$707K
Organizations funded19
Typical grant$6,000
Total assets$108.5M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $50,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
88% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Regents of the University of California | Berkeley, CA | Seawater measurements to track ocean acidification | $180,000 |
| Marine Technology Society Inc | Washington, DC | MATE ROV Competition | $100,000 |
| University of South Florida Foundation Inc | Tampa, FL | To support university programs that broaden access to the OCEAN STEAM fields and related blue economy workforce | $100,000 |
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | Boulder, CO | National Oceans Science Bowl 2024 | $99,831 |
| Nautilus Think Inc | New York, NY | To produce original content on the UN Ocean Decade and ocean research | $50,000 |
| Marine Technology Society Inc | Washington, DC | MATE ROV 2024 Competition and Championship | $50,000 |
| Mongabayorg Corporation | Menlo Park, CA | Scientific Expeditions series | $35,000 |
| Fundacion TBA21 | Madrid, SP | UN Ocean Decade confeence | $34,000 |
| World Ocean Observatory | Sedgwick, ME | World Ocean Explorer Exhibits 2024 | $15,000 |
| Marine Technology Society Inc | Washington, DC | Marine Technology Society Sponsorship - Oceans (Global) Student Poster Competition | $6,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution | Washington, DC | Summit on Ocean Biodiversity reception | $5,000 |
| Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers | New York, NY | IEEE AUV Symposium 2024 | $5,000 |
| Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers | New York, NY | IEEE Marine Imaging Workshop 5 | $5,000 |
| Gordon Research Conferences | East Greenwich, RI | Gordon Research Conference on Ocean Mixing | $5,000 |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences | East Boothbay, ME | OceanHackWeek 2024 | $5,000 |
| Escuela Rural San Miguel Conimo | Ancud, CI | To support the ship-to-shore connection with local public school | $5,000 |
| Envision Excellence in STEM Education | Cleveland Heights, OH | National STEM Festival -- student scholarships | $4,000 |
| Society for In Vitro Biology Incorporated | Millersville, MD | SIVB 16th International Conference sponsorship | $3,000 |
| IOOS Association | Silver Spring, MD | IOOS Committee Meeting Jul 2024 | $500 |
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundacion Tba21 | Madrid, | Third UN Ocean Decade Conference | $66,000 |
| MATE Inspiration for Innovation | Monterey, CA | MATE Inspiration ROV Competition | $50,000 |
| Ilustre Municipalidad de Chaiten | Chaiten, | To provide support for the schools of Chaiten to join the ship-to-shore program | $5,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $707,331 | 22 |
| 2023 | $456,059 | 15 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 15, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513199349101171
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 26-4562328
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.